New Hampshire Nurse Practitioners
Career News September 19, 2013Nurse practitioners are becoming more widely used, as patients appreciate the extra amount of time they get with the practitioner that they most likely would not get from a doctor. A New Hampshire Nurse Practitioner will need a Master of Science Nursing before being able to work in this position.
Nurse practitioners often work in hospitals, schools and clinics and can choose from a number of specialties, including pediatric care, geriatric care and women’s health, among others.
Nurse Practitioner vs. Physician Assistant: What’s The Difference?
Although the positions of nurse practitioners and physician’s assistants have similar duties, they differentiate, as well. Generally, they both have different medical backgrounds and receive different training. While a nurse practitioner must have a minimum of 10 years experience in nursing, this is not the case for a physician’s assistant.
Before beginning work, as a physician’s assistant, they must train in a clinical setting for anywhere from nine to 15 months. They are usually trained so that they can be a general practitioner. Physician’s assistants must always be supervised by a physician. As long as a physician’s assistant meets the qualifications for a PA program, they do not necessarily require a background in medicine, where nurse practitioners do.
New Hampshire: Nurse Practitioners at-a-glance
Number of NPs: not specified
NPs per 100,000 populations: not specified
Who governs/grants licenses to NPs: The New Hampshire Board of Nursing
Do you need to be an RN?
Yes, a person must be an RN in New Hampshire before they can become a nurse practitioner.
Do you need a Master’s of Science in Nursing to become an NP?
Yes, a person must hold a Master’s of Science in Nursing to become an NP in New Hampshire.
Are there other requirements?
Yes, in order to become an NP in New Hampshire, a person must also have a Documentation of Competence as well as a National Certificate. Candidates must also show their transcript from a nurse practitioner program that has been approved by the Board of Nursing.
They must have at least 225 hours of theoretical nursing as well as precepted practice totaling 480 hours. Candidates are also required to have attended a minimum of 30 hours of ongoing nursing education within the previous two years.
How much can a Nurse Practitioner earn in New Hampshire?
$86,486 per year (Salaries vary based on the employment setting, geographic location, educational background and years of experience).
Do NPs need a physician’s supervision for diagnosis and treatment?
No, a nurse practitioner in New Hampshire does not need supervision from a physician to diagnose or treat a patient.
Do NPs need a physician’s supervision to prescribe medication?
No, a New Hampshire nurse practitioner does not need to be supervised by a physician when it comes to prescribing medication.
Are there some drug classifications NPs cannot prescribe?
No, there are not any drug classifications that cannot be prescribed by a nurse practitioner in New Hampshire.
New Hampshire: Nurse Practitioner Outlook
Nurse practitioners are especially needed in parts of the country that do not have enough primary care physicians. Often, nurse practitioners work with patients enrolled in Medicaid. The care they provide compliments the care physicians provide to Medicaid patients. Expanding the number of services a nurse practitioner can offer to patients allows primary care physicians to treat more patients.
In places where medical resources are in demand, nurse practitioners are thriving because they are making up for the lack of primary care physicians available. The presence of nurse practitioners is cutting down the amount of money people pay for Medicaid benefits, keeping nurse practitioners in demand.
